Beaver Creek -- from Ruin to Rehabilitation, Part 2

People Pitch in to Turn the Tide of Beaver Creek

Note: The first three articles of this blog tell the story --12 years in the making -- of how a stream is making a comeback. The residents who live in the Beaver Creek watershed, about two dozen government agencies and community organizations, and a variety of scientists are bringing the degraded stream back to life.The  Beaver Creek story shows what people can do when armed with both knowledge and know-how. 

The power of stakeholders and partnerships.

In a watershed, whatever is done to the stream is done to the place you call home. You either enjoy a pristine setting or you can endure an ugly, muddy mess. You have a stake in the condition of the stream.

Water quality agencies and grass roots organizations now realize they can’t be successful in their clean-up efforts without stakeholder interest and involvement. Because the problems are in their back yards – sometimes literally – the stakeholders are the ones willing to wrangle with the politicians, talk to their neighbors and commit to long-term solutions.

Beaver Creek had taken the brunt of rampant development. Its very structure had been changed and its water was severely polluted. The patient needed a doctor – several specialists, in fact.  Engineers, hydrologists, landscapers, and urban planners, to name a few. To heal the 44-mile stream in north Knox County, a combination of therapies based on the nature of the problem and feasibility of the solution was prescribed.

“Stop the runoff!” became the cry echoing throughout the watershed. Since sediment from runoff was the primary culprit, the Beaver Creek Task Force addressed this issue first.  

Engineered methods for halting erosion and run-off.

“Our goal is to keep our soil on site,” says John Buchanan, associate professor in UT’s College of Engineering.  Buchanan facilitates soil erosion and sediment control courses for developers in Tennessee. “If there’s no erosion, there’s no sediment deposited in the streams.” It’s a simple concept that requires an understanding of the problem and knowledge of erosion-halting devices like silt fencing.

When Knox County strengthened its storm water runoff controls, developers were required to erect sediment-control silt fences before disturbing land. These are often two-foot-wide lengths of black or orange plastic staked at the perimeter of the construction site.  Site inspectors check that they’re present and installed correctly.  Buchanan says properly installed silt fences are quite effective in catching runoff by collecting water along the inside edge of the fence.  The water then filters down through the soil, leaving the topsoil behind.

Retention ponds, an older method of collecting runoff from subdivisions, are now known to be ineffective. They were designed to hold runoff for a while and release it into the storm water system after the initial surge of water had drained.  But so much silt filled the ponds that little room was left for stormwater; in no time, the basins were no more effective than a kiddy pool.

A better idea may be, in many cases, the establishment of rain gardens. A rain garden is a thickly-mulched bed, often kidney-shaped and strategically positioned in a yard where it can best catch runoff, allowing it to seep into the ground. It’s populated with a variety of native, deep-rooted plants that hold the soil in place. Plants like Tennessee coneflower and bee balm bring an added benefit: they attract butterflies and other wildlife and require less water and pesticides than fancy hybrids. And rain gardens enhance the property and add scenic beauty to the neighborhood.  

Cisterns – as our grandparents knew them – have been replaced by the smaller rain barrel. Thousands of gallons of rainwater cascade off an average roof yearly.  By capturing would-be-wastewater in a rain barrel strategically placed under a downspout, gardeners can rely less on costly tap water for watering their plants. It’s a win-win proposition – save water and save money.

The Tennessee Water Resources Research Center partners with UT Extension's Tennessee Yards and Neighborhoods program, where both rain gardens and rain barrels are promoted. Senior Research Associate Ruth Anne Hanahan piloted the program in the Beaver Creek watershed, offering workshops for residents who also learned landscaping and lawn maintenance practices that use less fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

Assistance and education engages watershed residents.

Farm practices can make or break a stream’s integrity, and county, state and federal agencies are helping farmers switch to best management practices. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Resource Conservation Service and UT Extension, the Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District offers financial incentives to farmers to fence their livestock out of streams, build paddocks in heavy-use areas that otherwise would cause erosion, or a number of other conservation practices. Some of the farmers in the Beaver Creek watershed have taken advantage of the cost-share incentives. 

Headed by UT Extension and the UT-affiliated Tennessee Water Resources Research Center, Hanahan and AmeriCorps volunteers facilitated Adopt-A-Watershed projects. Outdoor classrooms popped up in Gibbs, Halls and Powell schools – living laboratories for lessons on stream assessment and water conservation and protection.  In the 2009 - 2010 school year, students in 13 classes from five schools built rain gardens, planted riparian trees and native vegetation, established mulched trails, to name only a few water-focused activities.  

People in the five communities pick up trash and plant trees along the creek annually. A natural wetland near the Halls Library got some first aid, and a greenway now runs along the stream. At the Powell Library, pervious concrete soaks up water in sponge-like fashion.   

Keeping the community informed and involved is paramount to the success of Beaver Creek’s rehabilitation.  So the task force continues to engage the public through newsletters and monthly meetings. The strategy is producing impressive results, but there is still much to do. Changing how we live can’t be done overnight and perhaps the biggest hurdle is yet to come.